John Henry Turf Championship Stakes

Last updated
John Henry Turf Championship Stakes
ClassGrade II
Location Santa Anita Park
Arcadia, California, United States
Inaugurated1969
Race type ThoroughbredFlat racing
Website www.santaanita.com
Race information
Distance1+14 miles (10 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds & Up
WeightBase weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 126 lbs.
3-year-olds: 122 lbs.
Purse$200,000

The John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (renamed for John Henry who won it three times) is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the Oak Tree Racing Association's Autumn Meeting at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

Contents

It is raced over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the turf and is one of the final prep races leading to the Breeders' Cup Turf. Once a Grade I event, it is now a Grade II and open to horses three years old and up. It currently offers a purse of $200,000.

Inaugurated as the Oak Tree Stakes in 1969, from 1971 through 1995 it was called the Oak Tree Invitational Stakes, and from 1996 through 1999, the Oak Tree Turf Championship Stakes. From 2000 through 2011 it was called the Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship Stakes. The race, now named for John Henry, remains at Santa Anita although the Oak Tree Autumn Meeting was held at Hollywood Park until its closure in December, 2013.

From 1969 through 1994 it was raced at a distance of 1+12 miles.

In winning the 2008 edition, Red Giant set a world record time of 1:57.16 for 1+14 miles on turf. [1]

Records

Time record: (at current 1+14 miles distance)

Most wins:

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
2025Gold Phoenix (IRE)7 Umberto Rispoli Philip D'AmatoAgave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables LLC, & Marsha Naify1:58.74
2024Cabo Spirit5Abel CedilloGeorge PapaprodromouKretz Racing2:01.26
2023Balladeer4 Victor Espinoza George PapaprodromouCalvin Nguyen & Joey C. Tran1:58.94
2022Masteroffoxhounds5 Umberto Rispoli Philip D'AmatoRockingham Ranch1:59.79
2021 United 6 Flavien Prat Richard E. Mandella LNJ Foxwoods (Larry, Nanci & Jaime Roth)1:58.41
2020 United 5 Flavien Prat Richard E. Mandella LNJ Foxwoods (Larry, Nanci & Jaime Roth)1:59.17
2019Cleopatra's Strike6Abel CedilloPhilip D'AmatoSlam Dunk Racing & M. Nentwig1:58.22
2018Liam The Charmer5 Tyler Gaffalione Michael W. McCarthy Madaket Stables LLC 1:58.01
2017Itsinthepost5 Tyler Baze Jeff Mullins Red Baron's Barn LLC1:58.28
2016Ashleyluvssugar5 Gary Stevens Peter EurtonAlesia, Bran Jam Stable, Ciaglia Racing1:58.35
2015Race not held
2014Bright Thought5 Tyler Baze Philip D'Amato Dye and Venneri Racing1:58.27
2013Indy Point5 Gary Stevens Richard Mandella GusMay-Fer1:57:47
2012Slim Shadey4 Garrett Gomez Simon Callaghan Phil Cunningham1:59.17
2011 Acclamation 5 Patrick Valenzuela Don Warren Old English Rancho1:59.45
2010‡ Champ Pegasus 4 Joel Rosario Richard Mandella Diamond A Racing/Vargas2:01.21
2009 Presious Passion 6 Elvis Trujillo Mary Hartmann Patricia Generazio1:59.13
2008 Red Giant 4 John Velazquez Todd Pletcher Peachtree Stable 1:57.16
2007Artiste Royal6 Joe Talamo Neil D. Drysdale David & Jill Heerensperger1:59.89
2006 The Tin Man 8 Victor Espinoza Richard Mandella Ralph & Aury Todd2:00.12
2005 Fourty Niners Son 4 Corey Nakatani Neil D. Drysdale Tom Baxter2:01.17
2004 Star Over The Bay 6 Tyler Baze Michael R. Mitchell G Racing & VanBurger et al.1:58.70
2003 Storming Home 5 Gary Stevens Neil D. Drysdale Sheikh Mohammed 2:01.64
2002 The Tin Man 4 Mike E. Smith Richard Mandella Ralph & Aury Todd1:58.93
2001Senure5 Alex Solis Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1:59.47
2000Mash One6 David R. Flores Robert J. Frankel Amerman Racing / Palumbo2:00.67
1999Mash One5 David R. Flores Robert J. Frankel Amerman Racing / Palumbo1:59.07
1998Military4 Corey Nakatani Wallace Dollase The Thoroughbred Corp. 2:02.04
1997 Rainbow Dancer 6 Alex Solis Jenine Sahadi Evergreen Farm 2:01.94
1996†Admise4 Kent Desormeaux Walter Greenman Biszantz & Vandeweghe1:58.48
1995 Northern Spur 4 Chris McCarron Ron McAnally Charles J. Cella 2:02.37
1994 Sandpit 5 Corey Nakatani Richard Mandella Sierra Thoroughbreds2:25.12
1993 Kotashaan 5 Kent Desormeaux Richard Mandella La Presle Farm 2:25.06
1992Navarone4 Pat Valenzuela Rodney Rash Robert E. Hibbert2:24.29
1991Filago4 Pat Valenzuela Robert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann 2:23.62
1990Rial5 Rafael Meza A. Pico Perdomo Enrique Carlos Boelcke2:23.80
1989 Hawkster 3 Russell Baze Ron McAnally M/M J. Shelton Meredith2:22.80
1988Nasr El Arab3 Gary Stevens André Fabre Sheikh Mohammed 2:25.20
1987±Allez Milord4 Chris McCarron John Gosden Gallagher Farm2:36.20
1986 Estrapade 6 Fernando Toro Charles Whittingham Allen E. Paulson 2:26.00
1985Yashgan4 Chris McCarron John SullivanLiebau et al.2:27.20
1984Both Ends Burning4 Russell Baze Neil D. Drysdale Burdett-Coutts & Nelson2:25.40
1983Zalataia4 Freddy Head André Fabre Edith de Gil2:29.20
1982 John Henry 7 Bill Shoemaker Ron McAnally Dotsam Stable 2:24.00
1981 John Henry 6 Bill Shoemaker Ron McAnally Dotsam Stable 2:23.40
1980 John Henry 5 Laffit Pincay Jr. Ron McAnally Dotsam Stable 2:23.40
1979Balzac4 Chris McCarron Charles Whittingham Elizabeth A. Keck 2:25.40
1978 Exceller 5 Bill Shoemaker Charles Whittingham Nelson Bunker Hunt 2:24.60
1977Crystal Water4 Bill Shoemaker Roger E. Clapp Connie M. Ring 2:26.40
1976King Pellinore4 Bill Shoemaker Charles Whittingham Cardiff Stock Farm 2:31.40
1975 Top Command 4 Bill Shoemaker Charles Whittingham M/M Quinn Martin & Murty Farm (Duane, Wayne, Robert Murty)2:26.00
1974 Tallahto 4 Laffit Pincay Jr. Charles Whittingham Elizabeth A. Keck 2:25.80
1973Portentous3John Ramirez Evan S. Jackson Daniel Schwartz2:25.60
1972 Cougar II 6 Bill Shoemaker Charles Whittingham Mary Jones Bradley 2:27.20
1971 Cougar II 5 Bill Shoemaker Charles Whittingham Mary Jones Bradley2:24.60
1970 Daryl's Joy 4 Johnny Sellers Charles Whittingham R. K. C. Goh2:26.20
1969Czar Alexander4 Ángel Cordero Jr. Angel Penna Sr. Gustave Ring 2:23.40

± In 1987 the winning time may have been affected because the race was started on the backstretch instead of from its normal hillside position.
† In 1996, Bon Point finished first but was disqualified and set back to fifth place.
‡ In 2010 run at Hollywood Park.

Notes

  1. "Clement Hirsch: Red Giant sets record". 27 September 2008.

References